Granollers outlasts Verdasco

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SPORTS NETWORK

Jul 31, 2011

, Last Updated: 11:38 AM ET

GSTAAD, Switzerland -- Marcel Granollers captured his second career title by defeating fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the Swiss Open final.

In the first meeting between the pair, the eighth-seeded Granollers outlasted Verdasco 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours. Sunday marked the first all-Spanish final in Gstaad since 1997 when Felix Mantilla beat Juan Albert Viloca.

Granollers played in his third career ATP final. He won his maiden championship on clay in Houston three years ago before losing to countrymate David Ferrer on an indoor hardcourt in Valencia last November.

"It was a very tough match because he's an incredible player," Granollers said. "He's won a lot of tournaments and it was very tough for me today. All week I served very well, especially today. I was very solid from the baseline and today I played the first set very aggressively."

The 25-year-old Granollers became the seventh different Spaniard to win a title in 2011.

Verdasco, seeded fourth this week, remains winless in title matches this year. He lost to Milos Raonic in San Jose back in February and came up short against Juan Martin del Potro in Estoril during the spring. The world No. 20 Verdasco is now 5-11 all-time in ATP finals, last winning a title in April 2010 in Barcelona.

"You always want to win, so it's not easy to lose the final," Verdasco said.